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USDA: Brazil agricultural biotechnology in 2014
Jul. 21, 2014
According to Brazil Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT), Brazil is the second largest producer of biotech crops in the world. Post forecasts an increase of five percent in area planted to biotech crops during the upcoming 2014/15 Brazilian crop year (Oct. 2014 through Sept. 2015). The increase is mostly attributed to the greater use of biotech soybeans and corn and increased availability of subsidized credit for farmers.
Bilateral agricultural trade between Brazil and United States reached $ 6.2 billion in 2013, up 48 percent from the previous year. Brazil exported to the $ 4.2 billion of agricultural commodities and foods products and imported an all-time record of $ 2 billion. U.S. agricultural exports to Brazil are primarily commodities required to meet local shortfalls. In 2013, the United States exported a record value of wheat to Brazil to meet major shortfalls in domestic production due to adverse weather and to fill the gap created by Argentine production shortfalls.
Brazil is a major producer and exporter of agricultural products, such as soybeans, cotton, sugar, cocoa, coffee, frozen concentrated orange juice, tobacco, fruits and nuts and wood products. As a result, the United States and Brazil are sometimes competitors in third markets, while the United States is a major destination for Brazil’s exports of sugar, coffee, tobacco, orange juice, and wood products.
Brazil is responding to higher world food prices and possible food shortages by increasing agricultural production. Grain and oilseeds production increased from 60 million metric tons in 1991 to 193 million tons during the 2013/14 crop year, up 221 percent. In the same period, the cultivated area increased 48 percent from 38.5 million hectares in 1991 to currently 57 million hectares. A record R$ 156 billion ($ 70 billion) in credit lines at subsidized interest rates were announced in late May 2014 for the upcoming 2014/2015 crop season (Oct. 2014 – Sept. 2015, was up 15 percent from last year). These farm aid packages in support of agricultural production combined with the higher use of agricultural technology have dynamized the agricultural sector in Brazil.
According to commodity analysts, availability of subsidized credit lines and with stable world commodity prices are likely to contribute to the continued use of modern production technology such as biotech events in the next crop year. The adoption rate of biotechnology is expected to increase in the 2014/15 crop season to reach an average of 78 percent for total corn, soybean and cotton planted area.
Source: USDA
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